The topic of the article, 'House Transportation Bill Technical Correction Would Strip Workers Of Pay Protections,' by Dave Jamieson, concerns the 'Transportation Bill' presented by John
Mica, who is the Chairman of the House of Transportation, and what this bill represents to the
working class. The target audience of Jamieson is the hard working man, who may
think this bill offers him new job opportunities, when as the author proves,
the bill is double-sided.
Dave Jamieson shows the credibility of his point as he addresses how the bill intends to increase the budget dedicated to the construction of highways and toll roads. Dave Jamieson remarks that the Republican Party is trying to 'sell' the bill,
basing on the job opportunities that would be created when the bill gets
passed. He also explains how the preferred method is to open the USA coasts to
oil drilling, which it is not a surprise because traditionally road expenses have been partially subsidized by gas tax revenues. The second preferred method this
bill proposes would be a cut in the budget dedicated to public transportation. This bill looks like a solid plan to restore the economy however,
Dave Jamieson's article highlights some of the consequences that the bill could bring to the working public. For example, Railroad employees could lose
their right to a minimum wage and will not be paid overtime, which in my opinion shows the hidden face of this bill.
Dave Jamieson argues that cutting
the budget of public transportation would affect those who do not have their
own means of transportation, and threaten the ability of the service
to pay for maintenance and keep the service running properly. He also says that
the industry could suffer, since railroad workers already work at minimum wages
and the work is fiscally demanding an extenuating.
The author focuses the
article from a skeptical point of view; he does not seem to believe that this
bill was written only to help the economy of the country. I agree with this
point of view. I did some research, and the truth is that not many
public figures including Ray
LaHood, support the new Transportation Bill, which he called: "…the
worst transportation bill I've ever seen during 35 years of public
service." For now, the current bill of transportation will prevail, and
Congress expects that in one or two years the new bill will go in effect. I
really hope that this does not become one more bill that represents the
interests of men in suits who seem to had never had a day of hard labor in
their live and can not appreciate the efforts of the working class. So far,
this bill looks to me like a masquerade that protects the interest of the
wealthy under the appearance of rebuilding America’s infrastructure.
